Lightning vs. Capitals Odds, Preview, Prediction: Scoring Should Feature in Washington (Oct. 16)

Lightning vs. Capitals Odds, Preview, Prediction: Scoring Should Feature in Washington (Oct. 16) article feature image
Credit:

John McCreary/NHLI via Getty Images. Pictured: Alex Ovechkin.

Lightning vs. Capitals Odds

Lightning Odds-130
Capitals Odds+105
Over/Under6.5
Time7 p.m. ET
TVESPN+
Odds via DraftKings. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here.

Two of the highest-scoring teams in hockey will face off in a rematch of the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals, albeit with substantially lower stakes.

The Lightning are coming off a stunning, come-from-behind 7-6 win in Detroit on Thursday, where they erased a pair of three-goal deficits. Washington is coming off the Alex Ovechkin show, after its captain scored four points in the Caps' season-opening, 5-1 win over the New York Rangers.

Championship Hangover for Lightning?

The Lightning have looked hungover through two games, and only the furious rally late kept them from a very un-Tampa Bay-like 0-2 start.

It's early, but Andrei Vasilevskiy has looked positively pedestrian, posting a .643 high-danger save percentage at 5-on-5 and an .845 save percentage in all situations. Tampa Bay has surrendered an NHL-most 12 goals — albeit three were empty-netters in its season-opening loss to Pittsburgh.

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Capitals Special Teams Already Special

The Capitals' special teams were in midseason form as their usually lethal power play scored three times, and they added a short-handed marker in their season-opening win.

Washington still managed five goals despite missing Nicklas Backstrom, who was placed on long-term injured reserve due to a hip injury. But the tandem of Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov combined for six points, plus guys like Hendrix Lapierre and defenseman Justin Schultz chipped in offensively.

Capitals vs. Lightning  Pick

Six-and-a-half is really high number to clear, and it feels like the Lightning are due a stingy performance or a stand-on-your-head night from Vasilevskiy. But goals always come fast and furious in the beginning of the season, and I sure wouldn't bet against these two teams to light it up in the nation's capital Saturday night — particularly if Tampa Bay's offense is going to heat up.

Pick: Over 6.5 (-110)

About the Author
Pat Pickens has covered the NHL since 2013, with bylines in The New York Times, Sportsnet.ca, NHL.com, Bleacher Report, USA Today and many others. His best hockey bet came on the Los Angeles Kings -1.5 in Game 1 of the 2012 Western Conference Final.

Follow Pat Pickens @Pat_Pickens on Twitter/X.

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